Week 5 | Day 3 THE POOLS AT BETHESDA John 5:1-17

Just outside the Gentile Court, near the Sheep Gate, lay the Pools of Bethesda—a place crowded with suffering and quiet desperation. Jesus deliberately entered that space and healed a man who could not heal himself. This was more than a miracle; it was a living classroom. Jesus was training His disciples—and us—to see brokenness with compassion, to trust His authority, and to understand that God’s work is personal, purposeful, and always moving toward restoration.

APPLICATION

1. Move Toward Need, not Away from It

Jesus stepped into suffering rather than avoiding it. Following Him means that we don’t ignore the pain and difficulty around—we engage it with compassion under the leading of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus didn’t heal everyone at the pool, we can’t help everyone, but we can help the one’s God calls us to help.

2. See People, not Just Crowds

Out of many hurting bodies, Jesus noticed one man. Faithful service often looks like loving one person right where they are and being willing to meet them at the point of their need.

3. Examine the Desires of Your Heart

“Do you want to be made well?” reminds us that change requires willingness. God heals more than circumstances—He reshapes desires, give hope, and transforms lives—if we’re truly willing.

4. Trust Grace, not Opinions, Formulas, or Solutions

The healing didn’t come from stirred water but from Jesus’ word. God’s power isn’t earned, timed, or controlled—it is received.

5. Let Grace Alone Lead to Obedience and Transformation

“Get up and walk” showed that Jesus’ authority enabled obedience, and “sin no more” reminds us that mercy calls us forward into new life.

PRAYER

Lord, help me see You at work in and around my life. Teach me to see others as You see them and give me a heart that moves with compassion rather than hesitation. Show me where You are inviting me to obey, to serve, and to trust You more deeply. Give me courage to step into what You are already doing. Amen.